Proverbs 28:3
A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
Original Language Analysis
גֶּ֣בֶר
man
H1397
גֶּ֣בֶר
man
Strong's:
H1397
Word #:
1 of 8
properly, a valiant man or warrior; generally, a person simply
וְעֹשֵׁ֣ק
that oppresseth
H6231
וְעֹשֵׁ֣ק
that oppresseth
Strong's:
H6231
Word #:
3 of 8
to press upon, i.e., oppress, defraud, violate, overflow
דַּלִּ֑ים
the poor
H1800
דַּלִּ֑ים
the poor
Strong's:
H1800
Word #:
4 of 8
properly, dangling, i.e., (by implication) weak or thin
וְאֵ֣ין
H369
Historical Context
Tax collectors in Roman Palestine, often poor Jews exploiting fellow poor Jews for Rome, exemplified this proverb. Understanding oppression firsthand didn't prevent them from becoming oppressors for personal gain.
Questions for Reflection
- Have you seen people who experienced hardship become hard-hearted rather than compassionate?
- How can you ensure that your own difficulties produce compassion rather than bitterness?
- What does this proverb teach about sin's universality across all economic classes?
Analysis & Commentary
A poor man who oppresses the poor is like 'a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.' The Hebrew 'geshem sobeph' (driving/sweeping rain) destroys crops rather than nourishing them. When the poor oppress the poor, it's doubly tragic—they should understand suffering but instead inflict it. Reformed theology recognizes that sin transcends economic categories; poverty doesn't ensure virtue. Some of history's cruelest oppressors arose from poverty. This verse condemns all oppression, especially when those who should sympathize based on experience become oppressors.